ames. He tramps about and lashes his tail against the bars and
stamps his feet, and his keeper hurries to throw him his ration of raw
meat. When he is satisfied, he lies down and purrs as good-naturedly
as a pussy cat, and looks you in the eyes with an unwinking stare.

You and I most earnestly hope that he may never contrive to escape.

[Illustration: {A KITTEN ASLEEP IN A SLIPPER.}]

DISOBEYING MOTHER.

"I think, little goslings, you'd better not go.
You're young, and the water is chilly, you know;
But when you get strong,
You can sail right along--
Go back in the sunshine, or walk in a row."

"No, no! we will go," said those bold little things,
Except one little dear, close to mother's warm wings.
Out went all the rest,
On the water with zest;
They said, "We will venture, whatever it brings."

Their mother looked out, so kind and so true,
Adown where the rushes and lily-pads grew;
They looked very gay,
As they paddled away,
With their bright, yellow backs, on the water so blue.

"Come back!" cried their mother, "come back to the land!
I fear for my dear ones some evil is planned."
But they ventured beyond
The shore of the pond,
And laughed at her warnings, and spurned her command.

Farewell, to the goslings! their troubles are o'er;
They were pelted with stones, by boys on the shore.
Afar from the bank,
They struggled and sank,
Down deep in the water, to come up no more.

Oh, see what it cost them, to have their own way;
Their punishment came without stint or delay;
But the sweet one that stayed,
And its mother obeyed,
Lived long, and was happy for many a day.

[Illustration: PLAYING BARBER.]

PLANTS THAT EAT.

These plants are so constructed as to attract insects, capture them in
various ways, and feed upon them. Perhaps the best known of the group
is _Venus' Fly-Trap_. The leaves vary from one to six inches long, and
at the extremities are placed two blades, or claspers. On the inner
walls of these claspers are placed six irritable hairs; the slightest
touch from an insect on any one of which is sufficient to bring the
two blades together with such rapidity as to preclude any possibility
of the fly escaping.

[Illustration: LEAVES OF THE FLY-TRAP OPENED AND CLOSED.]

This plant readily discriminates between animal and other mat